EVEN AFTER THE STORM

CHAPTER TWO

THE WEIGHT BEHIND HER SMILE

“Sister Chloe, wait!” Storm called out, her small feet pattering quickly against the dusty path.

Chloe didn’t slow down. She kept walking, her arms folded and her eyes fixed ahead as though she hadn’t heard.

“Sister Chloe! Wait for me!” Storm called again, louder this time, her voice edged with a playful whine.

Still no answer.

Storm narrowed her eyes and shouted dramatically, “Ahh!”

Chloe froze mid-step, turned around, and met her little sister’s eyes with a smile full of knowing mischief.

Storm blinked at her with her big round eyes and puffed cheeks, looking as innocent as a morning dove. “I gotcha.”

Chloe laughed gently, shaking her head. “Why are you always this mischievous?”

“I called your name and you ignored me,” Storm said, catching up. “That was the only way I could make you turn around.” She grinned up at her older sister, proud of her clever plan.

“Well, it worked perfectly,” Chloe replied, brushing a stray thread off Storm’s dress.

“Sister, why do you always walk so fast?” Storm puffed. “Sometimes you walk like… like a non-human! I can’t keep up!”

Chloe chuckled. “You’ve just chosen to be lazy, that’s all.”

“No, really,” Storm protested, catching her breath. “My bones are weak. Not like every other child’s. Remember, I didn’t get to suck Mama’s breast, not even once! All these canned milks you feed me with are the reason I’m so delicate.” She blinked up at Chloe with mock seriousness.

That did it. Chloe burst into laughter, the kind that came from the belly and brought tears to her eyes. She laughed so hard she had to hold her side.

Storm tilted her head, genuinely confused. “Sister Chloe, why are you laughing like that? Are you okay?”

Still laughing, Chloe wiped her eyes and touched Storm’s cheeks with a gentle hand. “You know, for your age, you’re too smart. You talk like an adult child.”

Storm raised her chin with pride. “Of course I’m smart. I got it from Mama. I heard she was a very smart woman. And to top it off, I look just like her. May God rest her soul.”

“You’re very correct, my darling,” Chloe whispered.

“Eww, I’m not your darling! I’m your sister!” Storm said, pretending to gag.

“Okay, okay,” Chloe said with a smile. “My darling sister. Are we good now?”

Storm smiled back. “Yes. We’re good.”

They walked together for a few more moments, the sun beginning its slow descent. The light painted their path in gold.

“So… what will we have for dinner tonight?” Storm asked, swinging Chloe’s hand in hers.

“I don’t know. What do you feel like eating?”

“I want us to make Papa’s favorite,” Storm said. Her voice dropped slightly, quiet and thoughtful. “The other day… I saw him staring at Mama’s photo. I think I saw a tear.”

Chloe’s steps slowed.

“But when I asked, he told me, ‘No… Big people don’t cry’” Storm paused. “Is that true, Sister Chloe? Do big people really not cry?”

Chloe stared ahead for a moment, then looked down at her sister.

“Adults do cry,” she said softly. “We’re humans too. But… we don’t cry the way children do. We don’t sit on the floor and scream when something doesn’t go our way. We don’t throw tantrums.”

Storm squinted suspiciously. “Why do I feel like you’re referring to me?”

“Well…” Chloe smirked. “You got the point, didn’t you?”

Storm smiled faintly. But her voice turned soft again. “Sister Chloe, can I ask you something?”

Chloe looked at her, sensing the shift in mood.

“Of course,” she replied. “But only if you promise to stop walking behind me like a lost puppy.”

Storm didn’t laugh this time. She stopped walking.

Her voice dropped into a whisper.

“Be honest with me… Do you think Mama watches us from somewhere?”

The wind stirred gently, rustling the dry leaves. A bird flapped its wings in a distant tree. And just for a moment, the air felt different as though something unseen had paused to listen.

Chloe stared at her sister’s face so full of innocence, yet carrying questions that shouldn’t belong to a child so young.

She knelt, wrapped her arms around Storm, and whispered, “Yes. I believe she does.”

They stood there for a moment, holding each other as the shadows grew longer behind them.

“Sister,” Storm whispered, resting her head against Chloe’s shoulder, “I love you and Papa so much. You two are my best friends.”

Chloe smiled. “I love you too, darling. Always.”

“ Sometimes I wish Mama was still alive,” Storm added. “To see us. To see how beautiful I am now.” There was a short pause Chloe didn't know whether to laugh or cry . “But I promise to work very hard to make you and Mama proud. That way, Papa won’t be sad anymore.”

“Chloe wrapped an arm around her.Papa's not always sad, he smiles more than you think ”. “In fact, he loves you more than you know. You’re his little sunshine. You know he would do anything for you, right?”

“Yes, Sister,” Storm answered with a small nod.

They reached the front of their house, the same quiet compound where laughter had once danced in the air like sunlight.Their father sat outside on a wooden stool, looking toward the trees like he often did when his thoughts became heavy.

“Papa! Papa!” Storm shouted, running ahead and hopping into his lap.

Mr. Donald smiled, catching her easily. “Welcome, my two favorite humans.”

“No, Papa!” Storm pouted. “I’m your favorite human. That’s why you always call me ‘Sweetpea.’”

Mr. Donald chuckled. “Okay, my smart girl. You’re absolutely right.”

Chloe laughed as she walked toward the kitchen. “Let me go and prepare dinner before you two declare a war.”

“Don’t bother,” Mr. Donald called after her. “I already made dinner. Just set the table.”

Chloe blinked in surprise and turned back. “Papa, I’ve told you not to keep doing this. You really didn’t have to.”

“I know I know ,” He raised a hand in surrender. “I won’t do it again.”

“That’s what you always say, then you go right back into the kitchen” she replied, rolling her eyes playfully.

“Just say thank you,” Storm chimed in , grinning as she winked at her father.

Chloe rolled her eyes and smiled. Aight. Thank you, Papa.”

Mr. Donald ruffled Storm’s hair gently. “I made your favorite tonight, my princess,” he added, patting Storm’s back.

Storm’s eyes widened. “Which of the princesses, Papa?”

“You, of course.”

Storm gasped dramatically. “Really?!” she squealed and dashed off to check.

Chloe and her father exchanged a knowing smile.

“She loves food too much” said Chloe

Moments later, Storm came racing back, throwing her arms around her father’s neck, and stood on her toes to give him a soft peck on the forehead.

“I love you, Papa.”

He pulled her in gently. “I love you too, my favorite human.”

Dinner was warm, simple, and full of laughter. Storm was especially chatty about school, about neighbour’s goat that chased her last week, about the shape of the cloud. Her joy was infectious.

But before long, her words slowed. Her head drooped slightly. And before they finished eating, she had fallen asleep at the table, her cheek resting gently on the wooden surface, her chest rising in slow, even breaths.

Chloe smiled and carefully lifted her in her arms. “She talks so much,” she whispered.

Mr. Donald nodded. “She’s her mother’s child.”

As Chloe carried her sleeping sister to bed, a soft breeze stirred through the room.

Chloe went to her room, stood by the window, gazing out at the bright sky.

The moon seemed to watch her in silence as she stared back lost in thought, her mind drifting to memories of her mother, her life, her sister, and her father

“How could I say life is unfair? No, I am grateful to be alive, Life itself is a gift.” she whispered the thought to herself as she closed the window, lay down on her bed, and drifted off to sleep.